About the Yakima Valley

Outdoor Lifestyle | Yakima Wine Country | Health Care Community Involvement | Education | Economic Development Shopping | Dining | The Arts | Sports Teams Relocation Info

Outdoor Lifestyle

The Yakima Greenway

If you enjoy walking, running, fishing, bird watching, skating, and/or picnicking, you will want to explore the Yakima Greenway. The ten mile long paved pathway on the outskirts of Yakima stretches from the west side of the city to Selah and Union Gap. It includes three parks, two fishing lakes and four river access landings. Access to the Greenway is free to the public year round, dawn to dusk, and the Greenway is wheelchair accessible. The path is patrolled by the “Greenway’s Courtesy Cart” during the summer months.

Visit the Yakima Greenway website

Hiking and Biking in the Yakima Valley

Hiking trails are a pleasant and healthy way to experience the beauty of the Yakima Valley. Hiking trails are abundant in the hills and mountains surrounding Yakima and offer the active adult the opportunity to enjoy exercise, fresh air, and beautiful scenery. Many trails offer easy hikes for those who enjoy wildflowers and animal life and many offer stunning views of the Cascade Mountains. There are also plenty of trails for hiking enthusiasts that want more of a challenge. Hiking groups from the Yakima Valley offer the novice and experienced hiker the opportunity to enjoy the Yakima Valley from a mountain trail.

One local group, The Cascadians Outdoor Recreation Club, includes hikers, bicyclists, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Visit the Cascadians website

Accessible during the summer months, the Pacific Crest Trail is a popular route for hiking and mountain biking. The trail is located at the summit of White Pass on Highway 12. For more information about the Pacific Crest Trail

The Yakima Valley is a perfect place for biking enthusiasts. Several bike routes wind through the heart of farming and wine country. With rolling hills draped in cherry, apple and pear orchards, these routes provide the cyclist with hours of exercise and enjoyment. Wineries and tasting rooms are abundant along the way and offer the perfect place to relax and enjoy the fantastic weather and scenic views that the Yakima Valley is known for. Many outdoor enthusiasts enjoy mountain biking in the Cascade Mountains, just a short drive from Yakima. There are several biking clubs that offer weekly excursions for the novice and for the hardcore bicyclist.

Visit the Mount Adams Cycling website
Visit the Chinook Cycling website

Golf in the Yakima Valley

The Yakima Valley is a golfer’s dream come true. Nowhere else in the state of Washington will you find a more perfect place to enjoy the pleasure that golf offers. As a golfer in the Yakima Valley you will find sunshine, scenery and amenities that will put a smile of satisfaction on your face each time you tee up.

There are ten golf courses in the Yakima area, six 18-hole and four 9-hole courses. Two more golf courses are under construction in the Yakima area.

18-Hole Golf Courses

1) Apple Tree Golf Course – 18-hole public course. Phone 509-966-5877.

2) Suntides Golf Course - 18-hole public course. Phone 509-966-9065.

3) Mt. Adams Country Club in Toppenish – 18-hole semi-private course. Phone: 509-865-4440.

4) Yakima Country Club – 18-hole private course. Phone 509-453-0363.

5) Yakima Elks Golf & Country Club – 18-hole private course. Phone 509-697-7177.

9-Hole Golf Courses

1) Westwood Golf Course – 9-hole public course. Phone 509-966-0890.

2) Fisher Park Golf Course – 9-hole public course. Phone 509-575-6075.

3) River Ridge Golf Course in Selah – 9-hole public course. Phone 509-697-8323.

4) Cherry Hill Golf Course – 9-hole public course. Phone 509-854-1800.

Golf Courses Under Construction

1) Zillah Lakes – 9-hole course

2) The Vineyards - 18-hole course

Fishing in and Around the Yakima Valley

Yakima’s arid climate provides residents plenty of sunshine and very little rain. There is, however, no shortage of water for recreation –especially fishing– in nearby lakes, rivers, and ponds.

Mountain lakes provide scenic views as well as great fishing. Clear Lake and Rimrock Lake are located on White Pass, just 40 miles from Yakima, and offer rainbow and Kokanee trout. Fishermen also troll for Kokanee and rainbow trout on Bumping Lake located on scenic Chinook Pass, just 60 miles from Yakima. The numerous ponds along I-82 in the Lower Yakima Valley offer large mouth bass, yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, rainbow and brown trout.

The rushing waters of the Tieton and Naches Rivers, which flow into the Yakima River from the west, offer rainbow trout and white fish. Cowiche Creek is known for cutthroat, rainbow and brook trout.

The Yakima River is fast becoming the premiere destination for fly-fishermen (and women) throughout the state of Washington. Anglers experience not only a beautiful river with scenic views, but also a “blue-ribbon” trout stream providing hours of recreation and entertainment. The Yakima River is also recognized for its ever-popular smallmouth bass fishing. There are several professional outfitters that will provide anglers the ultimate fishing experience on the Yakima River.

Lake Fishing Information

Fly Fishing Outfitters
The Evening Hatch
Brazda’s Fly Fishing
Gary’s Fly Shoppe

Skiing

Whether you prefer winding through the firs on mountainous Nordic trails or the challenge of skiing steep alpine slopes, you will find a skier’s paradise just minutes from Yakima at White Pass Ski Resort.

Water Sports

If you enjoy boating, you will want to experience Yakima area lakes and rivers in a kayak, canoe, motor boat, sailboat, or personal water craft. If you prefer the excitement of floating rapids, try whitewater rafting on the Naches or Tieton Rivers or river floats down the Yakima River!

For more information on Yakima area marinas

For more information on float trips and whitewater rafting

Yakima Valley Wine Country

The first known wine grapes grown in the Yakima Valley were grown in the Sunnyside area in 1917. In 1964 the first Yakima Valley wines were produced. The Yakima Valley is known as the oldest and largest wine-growing region in Washington State, producing almost half of Washington State’s wines. With its warm days and cool nights, The Yakima Valley provides superb growing conditions for wine grapes. The Yakima Valley has more than 60 wineries and over 12,000 acres producing wine grapes.

The best way to discover Yakima’s wine country is to take a leisure trip down the Yakima Valley Highway and make stops at the many wineries that you find along the way. Stunning views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams set in among the Cascade Mountain range will delight you as you travel the scenic route. You will find that each winery has its own distinctive and unique quality and that no two wines are the same. Most of the wineries are small, family run businesses and all seek to excel at their craft. Visitors are met with the hospitality that the Yakima Valley is known for, and it is not unusual to have a family member take visitors on a tour and describe the process of making the perfect wine.

There are special events celebrating Yakima Valley wines throughout the year. If you are a wine enthusiast you will want to mark your calendar with the dates of the following events:

• Thanksgiving in Wine Country - the Friday through Sunday following Thanksgiving Day
• Red Wine and Chocolate - the weekend following Valentine’s Day
• Spring Barrel Tasting - the last weekend in April

There are many more activities that are arranged collectively and privately by area wineries throughout the year, ensuring you can be a part of celebrating Yakima Valley wines. For more information Yakima Valley wine events:

Wine Yakima Valley
Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail
Map of Yakima Valley’s wine country

Yakima Area Health Care

Health Care will always be a priority for the active adult. Yakima has a long history of providing excellent health care through its two largest hospitals, Yakima Regional Medical Center and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Each hospital has over 200 beds and each is nationally recognized for its ability to provide area residents with the best care in Central Washington.

Yakima Regional is nationally recognized in the treatment of heart attacks with its technologically advanced cardiac center. Yakima Regional also provides neurosurgery and is a level III trauma center. Memorial Hospital provides services in heart care, mental health and orthopedics. Memorial’s North Star Lodge is a newly designed outpatient facility treating cancer patients. Both hospitals have facilities located throughout the Yakima area specializing in everything from physical therapy to the treatment of sleep disorders.

Memorial Hospital
Yakima Regional Hospital

Over 270 physicians practice in the Yakima Valley, representing 36 medical specialties from orthopedic surgery to oncology. A new medical university (Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences) is under construction east of Yakima in Terrace Heights and will soon be training physicians. For more information about the new medical school see Economic Development.

Civic and Community Involvement

Yakima Valley residents are involved in a plethora of community organizations with a vibrant civic life for those who want to get involved in the community. The business community provides strong support to numerous civic organizations including Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Zonta International, and other women's clubs. There is a group for every interest - from Yakima Valley Pet Rescue to a vintage car club Vintiques of Yakima.

Educational Opportunities

For the lifelong learner in the Yakima Valley, educational opportunities abound. Area colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate degrees, and classes are available at various learning institutions to hone computer skills, develop artistic talents, and even to explore the art of wine tasting.

The Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) campus is located in the heart of Yakima and offers Associate degrees in a wide variety of fields including Art, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Foreign Languages, Political Science, and Music. YVCC periodically offers classes to help you improve your Yakima Valley wine experience such as: Wine for Dummies, Wine and Cheese, and Faults of Wine.

Washington State University (WSU) operates an academic center in Yakima offering graduate and undergraduate degree programs in various fields of study including Nursing, Business Administration, and Environmental Science.

The main campus of Central Washington University (CWU) is located just 30 miles from Yakima in Ellensburg, Washington. Its branch campus in Yakima offers programs in Elementary Education, Social Sciences, and Law and Justice.

The main campus of Heritage University is located in Toppenish, just 15 miles from Yakima. The university also operates a branch campus in Yakima. Heritage offers undergraduate degrees in wide range of programs including Computer Science, Accounting, Natural Resources, Biology, and Visual Arts. Graduate degrees are offered in Education, Educational Administration, and Counseling.

If you would like to explore your artistic talents, Allied Arts Center offers workshops and classes including Basic Ceramics, Digital Photography, Poetry, and Watercolor.

The Harman Senior Center offers a wide variety of classes and programs of interest to seniors.

Yakima Valley Regional Library supports lifelong learning by providing access to a vast array of ideas and information. Nineteen public libraries serve the citizens of Yakima County, providing materials that meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the valley’s diverse population.

Economic Development

Yakima is becoming a popular location for organizations around the Pacific Northwest seeking to expand regional operations, and its strong economy has encouraged the expansion of many local businesses. Strong manufacturing, real estate, and health care sectors, in addition to the renaissance of Yakima’s Downtown, are all factors in the area’s recent economic growth. The following articles describe two recent contributors to the expanding local economy.

Medical University Swamped with Student Interest The first new medical school to be opened in the Pacific Northwest in 60 years, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences broke ground on its Terrace Heights campus in May of 2007. The university is the 25th college of osteopathic medicine in the nation, and is anticipated to draw students from five Northwest states – Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Alaska. Even though the university’s doors have yet to open, eight hundred students have applied for admission to the school’s 80 inaugural class slots. The university is actually considering raising its initial (Fall 2008) class size to 100 now that it has received its preliminary accreditation. “Our Valley is such a wonderful place to live - it is not surprising that student interest is high,” says David McFadden, president of New Vision, the Yakima County Development Association. “Our great weather, affordable housing, and strong job market make the region attractive for young professionals." Visit the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences website

Vineyard and Winery Technology Center Opens to Support Growing Wine Industry The Yakima Valley Community College recently celebrated the opening of the Workforce Education Center on the Grandview Campus. The Center will house an Allied Health Technology program and the Vineyard and Winery Technology program. The viticulture center includes a teaching winery, as well as a laboratory, classroom, tasting room, barrel and case storage, and two start-up winery spaces. "Having the two incubator spaces is unique to any other wine program in the nation; combining the academic and business environment in one setting," notes Trent Ball, Viticulture and Enology Instructor. Yakima County is the state’s leader in wine grape production and the region is particularly well positioned for new vineyards and wineries. “We are really excited to see the development of viticulture training and winery incubator programs,” comments Tammy Everts, Marketing & Development Coordinator for New Vision. “They will accelerate the development of this industry in our area and give us an edge in attracting new wineries and related businesses.”

For Yakima’s latest economic development news, visit the New Vision website

Yakima Area Shopping

Shopping in the Yakima Valley is fun and easy with numerous shopping centers, antique stores, and specialty shops to choose from. You are certain to find whatever you’re looking for, even if it’s just a place to enjoy browsing the afternoon away with a friend.

Downtown Yakima, the heart of the city's business district, features some of the most unique specialty shops in the region. For a directory of downtown shops, visit the Downtown Yakima website. Visit Track 29, with small shops in old train cars, as well as the Front Street Historic District with small shops and excellent restaurants.

Valley Mall and Valley Mall Plaza are located just south of Yakima in Union Gap, offering a wide array of well known national chains and specialty shops. The mall and plaza include more than 85 stores including Macys, Sears, Pier One, Borders and Linens ‘n’ Things.

Dining in Yakima Area Restaurants

With well over 100 restaurants in the Yakima area you are sure to find a favorite eatery. Whether you seek a restaurant with an intimate, quiet atmosphere and French cuisine or a fun and lively spot with gourmet hamburgers, you will have several options to choose from in every category. The following link provides several suggestions of restaurants in the Yakima area in a variety of categories. See the Visit Yakima website for more information.

The Arts

The Capitol Theatre - One of Yakima’s most treasured historic venues, The Capitol Theatre hosts over 150 events each year, including top-quality touring Broadway musicals. The Capitol Theatre is also home to a variety of productions presented by numerous local organizations, such as Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Town Hall Lecture Series, Youthworks, The Memorial Follies and many local dance studios.

The Seasons Performance Hall - Converted in 2005 from an historic church in Downtown Yakima, Washington, The Seasons Performance Hall has quickly become a hotbed for jazz, Latin, and classical music, with weekly programs featuring international performers at the highest level. The hall boasts the fine architecture, outstanding acoustics, and elegance of the great concert halls of Europe.

Yakima Theatres - If movies are your choice for entertainment, you will enjoy a night out at one of the Yakima Theatres. With three locations showing as many as 24 different titles, you will be sure to find a movie that entertains you.

Allied Arts Center Theatre - The Warehouse Theatre Company (WTC) has provided affordable live theatre to the Yakima Valley for almost sixty years. WTC produces five shows in an intimate 200 seat theatre at the Allied Arts Center -- originally a fruit warehouse!

Central Theatre Ensemble - the Central Washington University hosts a vibrant theatre department and offers a number of excellent plays each quarter. CWU is located in Ellensburg, just a 45 minute drive north of Yakima.

The Yakima Symphony Orchestra and Yakima Symphony Chorus perform for enthusiastic audiences throughout the year. The Yakima Valley Folklife Festival Association organizes a Folklife Concert Series and yearly festival in celebration of local cultures. The Yakima 4th of July Celebration brings together the valley's residents for a firework filled extravaganza.

Art Galleries

Whether you are an artist, a collector, or just appreciate fine art, you will enjoy the many exhibits featured at Yakima area art galleries.

Red Gallery - Offering art classes for all ages, gallery space for artists, and studio space for lease, Red Gallery is located in Downtown Yakima at 30 N. 3rd Street, Yakima, 98901. Phone 509-469-2766.

Allied Arts of Yakima Valley
Larson Gallery

Museums

Spend an afternoon exploring the history and culture of the Yakima Valley by visiting one of the area’s museums. Or, enjoy Yakima’s living museum, the Yakima Area Arboretum.

McAllister Museum of Aviation
Yakama Nation Cultural Heritage Center
Yakima Area Arboretum
Yakima Electric Railway Museum
Yakima Valley Museum

Professional Sports Teams

Looking forward to an evening of cheering on the home team? Yakima has three professional sports teams that offer fans hours of entertainment.

Yakama Sun Kings CBA Basketball
Yakima Bears Minor League Baseball
Yakima Reds USL Soccer

Relocation Info - Relocating to Yakima

Telephone service, high-speed internet, and cable/satellite television:

Qwest: 1-800-244-1111
Charter: 1-888-438-2427

Utilities:

Electric company: Pacific Power: 1-888-221-7070

Natural gas: Cascade Natural Gas: 1-888-522-1130

Sewer: Terrace Heights Sewer District: (509) 453-8702

Water: Yakima County Public Services: (509) 574-2300

Garbage: Yakima Waste Systems Inc.: (509) 248-4213

Quality, privacy, and affordability
in a gated community for active adults

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